§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his reply to the First report from the Trade and Industry Select Committee on British Energy Policy and the Market for Coal in relation to 497W recommendation 33 on the interest of the consumer, Cm 2235, page 131, what period of time he assumed for the consumers' interest when formulating his response.
§ Mr. EggarAs the Government's response to recommendation 33 makes clear, the main protection for the interests of electricity consumers lies in the development of effective competition in the electricity supply industry. The development of competition is a continuing process, which began with electricity privatisation, and which will be further increased by the relaxation of the franchise limit for the RECs next year.